Trichinosis and Renal Function

Trichinella spiralis infection was induced in rats by oral feeding of infective larvae. Four weeks later, renal function, including renal plasma flow (RPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), excretion rate of protein, sodium and potassium were determined using clearance technics. There were no significant changes in these parameters. However, plasma urea nitrogen was significantly higher in the infected group, suggesting that either an impaired regulation of renal tubular urea transport or an increased skeletal muscle breakdown is likely. Correspondence: Panyawut Hiranyachattada, Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical,Medicine Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. Tel: (662) 2461272 ext 1820 SOUTHEAST ASIAN J TROP MED PUBLIC HEALTH Vol 31 No. 3 September 2000 464 stereomicroscope to confirm the infection. Animal preparation for clearance study Anesthetization was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection with Inactin (sodium salt of ethyl-1-methyl-propyl malonyl-thiourea, RBI, USA) at a dose of 110 mg/kg body weight (BW) and an additional dose was given if necessary to maintain anesthesia during the experiment. The animal was then placed on a heated operating table that maintain body temperature at 37oC via rectal thermistor feedback system. Tracheostomy was performed using a short piece of polyethylene tubing in order to aspirate the secretion that might block the airway under anesthesia. The right carotid artery was canulated with polyethylene tubing for measuring arterial blood pressure (ABP) and for blood sampling during the course of experiment. ABP was monitored with a pressure transducer (Statham PE23DE) and recorded on a Grass Polygraph (Model 7D) recorder. The left jugular vein was canulated with polyethylene tubing. Intravenous infusion of clearance markers including 1% para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) and 8% polyfructosan (PFS) was kept maintained at the rate of 0.8 ml/hour/100g BW by infusion pump (Model A975, Harvard Apparatus). The concentration of PAH and PFS were calculated in order to maintain plasma level of both substances suitable for determination of renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The urinary bladder was exposed by a suprapubic incision and canulated with a flanged canula for urine collection. Urine volume was determined gravimetrically in a preweighed cup assuming a density of 1g/ml. Clearance measurements were performed on both kidneys for 3 hours. At the end of experiment, a large volume blood sample was collected and plasma was separated for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) determination. The animal was then sacrificed and both kidneys were excised, decapsulated and weighed.